cunningham26 Posted September 15, 2021 Share Posted September 15, 2021 Has anyone come across a shootout video between the IBG Frontier vs. the MIUSA Frontier? Given the praise the IBG Hummingbird got i would love to hear/see how close the two frontier models really are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 I've never seen a video, but my own comparison shows that they are drastically different guitars that share a name and look. The USA model is lively, while the Masterbilt felt like the sound was trapped inside. I've heard many complaints about the strings shipped with the Inspired by Gibson and Masterbilt acoustics making them sound worse than they are, but that's the best comparison I can make short of buying both and using the same strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunningham26 Posted September 18, 2021 Author Share Posted September 18, 2021 having watched individual demos i think you're about right- aesthetically the same but that same epi/gibson gap. interesting you say the sound was trapped inside- that's definitely how i feel a lot of epi acoustics are that i've tried out. You can hear that someday they will sound great, but it's going to take years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted September 19, 2021 Share Posted September 19, 2021 The 2020 lineup of Masterbilt and Inspired by Gibson models I've played - multiple J-45s and J-200s, the Texan, and Frontier - are well-built, good-looking guitars. But they have all sounded tinny, like the strings aren't driving the wood at all. I've played several $500 models from other brands (some with laminate back and sides) in the same time period that I'd pick over these any day. The Guild DS-240 is a great J-45 copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrasso Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 My 2005 Masterbilt DR-500P sounds 1000 times better than my Masterbilt Frontier. But it’s 16 years old and has opened up nicely. Not sure how long it will take for the Frontier to open up. I might sell it and put electronics into the 500P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.